Surviving records and documents can tell us all sorts of things about our relatives. How they were related to each other, where they lived, what they owned, whether they were rich or poor, what their religion was, and many other things to build a picture of ancestors' lives.

The contents of the military bag on the right are likely to be the key to all sorts of secrets about its owner.



Ancestors living in London in 1680, saw the introduction of a private collection and delivery service for packets weighing up to one pound for the price of 1d within Westminster, London and Southwark. One of the postmarks used is shown on the left. Those ancestors would be astounded, perhaps terrified, at the ease of modern communication.

The downside of that ease  is that few now write letters, keep diaries or commonplace books. which together with, passports, identity cards, ration books, photographs, baptism and confirmation certificates, funeral cards, films, memories of elderly relatives and school reports are just a few examples of  valuable records which can be used to unlock the past of individuals and families.

In the following pages are set out just a few example of records and what they can tell us, which might be far more than at first appears.

I will be adding to the examples over the coming weeks and months.

Everyone will have some of these items which relate to their family either in their possession, the possession of family, online or stored away in archives.